Financial Aid Policies

Rights and Responsibilities

• Students must apply each year for all financial aid programs.
• Students who receive financial aid must make satisfactory academic progress in order to ensure continued eligibility on financial aid programs.
• Dropping classes or withdrawing early from the college during the semester may affect a student's financial aid award. Check with the Financial Aid Office prior to any change in status as a full-time student as part of the financial aid award may have to be repaid as a result of any change.
• Work-study students will be paid monthly by direct deposit for hours worked and reported on the work-study time sheet. All time sheets must be signed by the student and the work-study supervisor and submitted to the Financial Aid Office each month.
• Work-study jobs are located throughout the campus. Students are expected to report to work on time. They should notify their work-study supervisor if they must be late or absent. Students will be paid only for hours actually worked. Students who find their work-study assignment incompatible should discuss this matter with the Financial Aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

(Revised Effective Fall 2025)

Every student enrolled in an eligible program and receiving financial aid is expected to make satisfactory academic progress toward completing the program's requirements.  At the end of each semester, the student's cumulative grade point average (GPA) is calculated. This measure of progress toward graduation is noted on the student's semester grade report and is reviewed by the College.

To maintain satisfactory academic standing, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. The GPA is calculated based on all attempted courses at Johnston Community College, except developmental or remedial courses (grades R or P), as well as grades WD, W, I, NA, CR, CL, AU, and any repeated coursework that received a lower grade.

**Courses graded with COVID-19 WE/IE are also excluded from the GPA calculation.

** While developmental or remedial courses do not count toward attempted credit hours, students who have only completed these types of courses must still achieve a 2.0 GPA to satisfy the satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirement for financial aid. A grade of P (Pass) in developmental courses is equivalent to a 4.0 grade point, while a grade of R (Re-enroll) is equivalent to a 0.0 grade point.  

In addition, to maintaining the required GPA, students must pass at least 67 percent of the credit hours they attempt each semester to remain in satisfactory academic standing. At the end of each semester, the student's cumulative completion rate is calculated. This rate includes all attempted courses, except for developmental or remedial courses (grades R or P), audits (AU), courses marked as never attended (NA), and those with COVID-19 WE/IE grades.

Grades of A, B, C, D, F, I, WF, WD, W, CR, CL  repeated coursework, High School courses that earn college credit, and transfer credits are factored into completion rate. Grades of F, I (Incomplete), W, WF, WD,  are considered as attempts  and not passed

Financial aid will be terminated for students who have been on academic warning for one semester and are not making satisfactory academic progress by the end of that semester.

The time frame for a student to complete their program of study cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the program.  According to federal law, a student becomes ineligible  when it becomes mathematically impossible for the student to complete their program of study within 150% of the program's duration. 

This 150% limit will be measured by all attempted credit hours. Transfer Credits are included in the 150% calculation; however, up to 30 hours of developmental or remedial coursework and courses with COVID-19 WE/IE grades are  excluded. There is no academic warning period for the 150% rule.

EXAMPLE: If a program has 60 credit hours, the student may only attempt 90 credit hours before becoming ineligible to receive Title IV funds.  The 150% remaining hours in your program of study must be equal to or more than the remaining hours needed to graduate in your program of study.

Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) Policy

If a student completely withdraws from all classes prior to the 60% point of the semester, he or she is required by federal regulations to repay the funds for the time he or she has not attended class. This overpayment may be a combination of tuition, fees or books charged to his or her account, and/or direct payment made to the student.
Failure to make payment will result in the student being reported to the Department of Education and/or a collection agency. This action will also interrupt future financial aid awards.

The student will not be able to register for classes, receive transcripts, or grade reports.

North Carolina State Grant Return of Funds Policy

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) along with College Foundation Incorporated (CFI) has established a return policy for state-funded grants.  State grants at Johnston Community College include the NC Scholarship, NC Longleaf Commitment Grant, NC Transition Scholarship, and the North Carolina National Guard Tuition Assistance Program.

State grant recipients who withdraw from class, stop attending, drop out, or are dismissed/suspended from class prior to or at the 35 percent point of the semester will owe a repayment.  State grant return calculations are based on the student's last date of recorded attendance and/or class participation.  

If it is determined that a portion of the financial aid received by the student is unearned, the College is required to return the unearned funds back to the State within 45 days.  Notification will be sent to the student by mail. The amount of the return (repayment) will be due by the student in full when notification is received. In addition, no student shall be permitted to graduate, receive transcripts, or register for a new term until the debt has been repaid in full.

Verification Policy

The College verifies all applicants selected by the Department of Education. Verification is completed by the Financial Aid Office at the time the student's award is made. Financial aid awards are not disbursed until verification is complete.

Other

• Johnston Community College's Forgiveness Policy does not apply for financial aid purposes.
• Financial aid will be limited to 30 credit hours of developmental/remedial courses.
• No financial aid will be awarded for AU (Audit) grades, CR (Credit by Proficiency Examination) and NA (Never Attends).
• Financial Aid will only pay to repeat a course once, if you have already earned a passing grade ("D" or better) for the course.
• Any courses that do not count toward a student's current program of study will not be used to determine enrollment status for Financial Aid and/or VA unless they are eligible remedial courses.
• Once financial aid is terminated, students become ineligible for aid until their progress is again satisfactory. It is student's responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office when this has been accomplished.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Process

A student who has become ineligible for financial aid may appeal the termination of their financial aid.
Appeals generally given consideration involve students who have experienced:

(a) extended illness or hospitalization of the student,
(b) an accident which incapacitates the student for an extended period of time, and
(c) death or extended illness of an immediate family member which results in greater family responsibilities for the student.
(d) a change in programs, and as a result, causes them to exceed the maximum time frame.

The appeal must address why the student failed to make satisfactory academic progress and what has changed in the student's situation that will allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress in the future. Appeals must be in writing and submitted on the JCC Appeal Form along with proper documentation to the Financial Aid Office.

For a JCC Satisfactory Progress Appeal Form.

You may access information about your outstanding requirements by following the steps below.

1. Access Self-Service and log in to your account. Click on  the Financial Aid section.
2. Click on the dropdown menu under “Financial Aid Counseling”.  Select "Required Documents".
3. If you have missing JCC forms to submit, you may access the link to the outstanding forms under the "Explanation" column.

If all of your documents show "Received" or "Waived" for this school year, your file is complete and our staff is working on awarding you financial aid, if eligible. You can check on Self Service to see, if you have been awarded aid by accessing your “Award Letter” and/or “My Awards” from the Financial Aid Counseling dropdown menu.

Financial Aid Appeal Forms
2024 - 2025 - Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form
2024 - 2025 - JCC Unusual Enrollment History Appeal Form
2024 - 2025 - Special and Unusual Financial Circumstances

Unusual Enrollment History Policy and Appeal Process

New regulations from the Department of Education require institutions to check unusual enrollment history in an effort to prevent fraud and abuse in the Federal Pell Grant Program.

Federal regulations allow the Financial Aid Office to determine whether a student should continue receiving Title IV aid that has failed to earn credit at previously attended institutions, if they can document that there were mitigating circumstances beyond their control.  Documentation must support the reasons given by the student for the student's failure to earn academic credit and that the student did not enroll only to receive credit balance funds.

If the JCC Financial Aid Office decides that you are ineligible for federal financial aid on the basis of insufficient documentation, you may appeal the decision by completing the Unusual Enrollment History Appeal Form.

For a JCC Unusual Enrollment History Appeal Form